Arlington Pet of the Week: Nami

Some people say she looks like a taller version of a wiener dog, some people say she looks like an exotic wild African Lion Dog, and some people think she looks like Santa’s Little Helper from The Simpsons. I just think she looks like my sweet little girl. Nami grows on people. The more you’re with her, the more you start noticing her beautiful brown eyes that match her coat, her white tip of her tail like a paint brush, and her expressive bouncy ears. She’s really a gorgeous animal, and more importantly, such a loving companion.

I met Nami as a puppy when I was in the Peace Corps in Tanzania back in 2008. Check out her puppy picture- Adorable, right?! I could not resist keeping her! And it has been the best decision for the past 7 years. I brought her home in a taxi all the way into my village, where cars did not come through often. Culturally, people thought I was crazy, not only for having a dog as a single woman, but the way I babied her so much was clinically insane. Of course, she eventually grew on everyone though. (Except when she was chasing their chickens around town!) She followed me everywhere I went. “Nami” actually means “with me” in Swahili. We went on adventure after adventure together. I used to just whistle at my front door and she would run all the way home from a mile away. She warmed my heart and woke me up every morning climbing in bed and kissing me, ready to play. She kept me company in a village that could sometimes feel very lonely so far from home.

As difficult and expensive it was to bring Nami back to America with me, it was a very easy decision. She stayed with her grandparents for part of the time and grew on them too. To their disappointment, she eventually moved with me to Arlington! She still follows me around from room to room at home, and at the dog park she still runs right back at my whistle. While she’s a little older now and appreciates her afternoon nap more than in her younger years, her presence is still so huge. I work from home and run my own interior design business, NAFASI Interiors. Without co-workers, Nami keeps me company and gives me an excuse to pull myself away, get outside, and fit in some play time. She snores next to us all night now, and she wags her whole bottom so excited to see us whenever we get home. She still is — and always will be — my little baby. We grew up together side by side and around the world. She lights up my life, and I am so happy she’s always there with me.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner six consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.